Beijing's Out to Punish Anyone Not Pre-Booking Sights... 😅😅

[Katrina Sporer]

Certainly! Here's a translation of the Beijing travel tips for foreign friends, ensuring that it is readable and faithful to the original text:

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Some practical suggestions for those coming to Beijing:

• Beijing is BIG! Not just big, but really big!

  • First time in Beijing? You’d better make plans seriously. This place is huge with widely scattered attractions; you might not be able to visit as much as you want without going overboard and getting tired.
  • Make sure to plan your daily itinerary ahead and check the route. Or else all your time will be wasted on transportation.

• Where to stay conveniently?

  • Highly recommend staying near the subway station! Ideally central (e.g., the Second Ring or Third Ring Road area). This provides easy access to anywhere.

• Must-sees (with my little complaints:

  • Tian'anmen Square (Tiān'ānmén Guǎngchǎng) & Watching Raising National Flag Ceremony

    • Tian'anmen Square, the heart of Beijing, is also an important political-cultural center. Many people wake up early to watch the flag-raising ceremony.
    • Want to watch the flag-raising ceremony? You’ll need to get there super early and reserve a spot when it’s pitch dark. There will be lots of people and extremely strict security checks, just like when you board a plane.
    • Tip: Some periods may require reservations in advance to enter the Square or visit the Chairman Mao Memorial Hall; check and know in advance!

  • The Palace Museum (Gùgōng) - The Forbidden City

    • Once the residence and office of Chinese emperors, it’s immensely huge! You may feel like your legs will fall off by walking around.
    • ️ Important reminder: Buy tickets online as soon as possible! The earlier, the better! During peak seasons (i.e., summer, holidays), tickets might sell out a few days in advance. Don’t miss out because tickets are sold out at the site!
    • Wear the most comfortable footwear ever; trust me!
    • The Palace Museum’s enormous size calls for prior map research and route planning. The central axis (i.e., the main path) is classic but it’s worth checking out the palaces on either side too.

  • Temple of Heaven Park (Tiāntán Gongyuan) - Temple of Heaven

    • Where emperors conducted祭天 rituals and prayed for a bountiful harvest in past times.
    • Plan to visit early in the mornings so that you get see how many seniors locals work out, dance, sing, play shuttlecock, and enjoy life.

  • Summer Palace (Yìhéyuán)

    • A royal garden of Chinese emperors, vast with beautiful Kunming Lake.
    • Consider taking a boat tour or just having a nice break when tired.

  • The Great Wall (Chángchéng)

    • There are multiple sections along the Great Wall.
    • Badaling: well known, with convenient transport; however, extremely congested—be prepared to see lots of heads.
    • Mùtiányù: slightly less populated with great scenery; hence favored by foreigners. Cable cars are available here.
    • ️ Please beware: avoid sections labeled “wild Great Wall,” which haven’t been developed nor maintained properly. Those spots might prove dangerous. Furthermore, some unscrupulous car drivers or tourist guides may try to lure you into these sections under false pretenses, forcing purchases there. To avoid this, opt for those areas developed by authorities.

  • Hútòng - Ancient Lanes

    • Unique ancient alleys featuring local Beijing life experiences.
    • Nánluógǔxiàng: Most famous but over-commercialized now, swarming with people, mostly street food stalls and gift shop souvenirs.
    • Wǔdàoyíng Hutong: Liked by youths seeking arts with coffee shops, small bars, characteristic stores, slightly quieter than South Luogu Lane yet still crowded by tourists.

• What to eat?

  • Peking Duck (Běijīng Kǎoyā: A must-try culinary experience in Beijing. Check reviews online; there’re many famous roast duck restaurants.
  • A multitude of street food is available; they’re all worth trying but try to avoid stalls if your stomach is sensitive. Preferably, choose those stalls with clean looks; avoid those deserted by crowds.

• Traffic:

  • Subway is unbeatable! A wide network across Beijing, English broadcast and direction plates are available, easily accessible and cheap.
  • If you choose to take a taxi, it can be challenging to get one during peak hours due to heavy traffic, making it frustrating too. However, using taxi apps (e.g., DiDi) may offer alternatives; you might need to bind your account to Chinese payment methods.

• ️️️ Some important notes (lessons learned!)

  • Book ahead! Book ahead! Book ahead! (Very crucial point)
    • Prior reservation is highly recommended for popular attractions such as Palaces, Museums, Train tickets, etc, especially online through official channels. Reservations for foreign tourists might differ from domestic ones so, do your homework or ask hotels to help.
  • Be mentally prepared for more people!
    • Especially during public holidays such National Day or Chinese New Year, crowds get out of hand. Try to avoid these times.
  • Beware of tourism frauds!
    • Overenthusiastic people in scenic spots asking you to take tea or attend an art exhibition or buy cheap jade products? They may scam tourists. Don’t fall for it.
  • Comfortable footwear can be life-saving!
    • Having your daily step count on WeChat reaching up to 20000+ can become standard if walking around Beijing.
  • Don’t try to do too much in one day!
    • Touring more places can be physically exhausting instead of relaxing. Prioritize fewer destinations to have a lighter itinerary.

Hope these tips help, and wish you a great time in Beijing!

[Mr. Otis Schaefer]

Beijing is definitely worth a visit! I went with my parents, and honestly, booking tickets individually was a real hassle – some were nearly impossible to get. So, we decided to join a local tour group. For a 5-day, 4-night trip, it cost just over 1000 RMB per person, and my whole family had a fantastic time.

[Misty Dare]

Any recommendations?

[Linda Dietrich]

If you need to book for a specific day, just let me know. I can get it booked for you with 99% certainty, using your own ID.